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AbstractSorption characteristics of three Lagenaria vulgaris-based biosorbents: raw biomass (rLVB), acid–base-activated biomass (aLVB) and sulfuric acid-treated biomass (ccLVB), were compared as a function of contact time, initial methylene blue concentration, and initial pH, in order to evaluate the effect of chemical modifications. The adsorption studies of raw and chemically modified L. vulgarisbiomass were compared in batch mode. The Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results of biosorbents’ characterization showed presence of different functional groups which can be responsible for sorption of MB from aqueous solutions. Moreover, FTIR analysis reveals that acid–base activation of raw biomaterial resulted in hydrolysis of esters providing more reactive sites (–COO−), while sulfuric acid-treatment method introduced new functional groups such as –SO3−. Surface functional groups containing oxygen, such as carboxylic, lactonic, and phenolic, are quantified using the Boehm’s method. The kinetics of MB biosorption were found to follow a pseudo-second-order kinetics in all cases, while experimental equilibrium data were fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms by linear regression method. Langmuir modelprovides the best fitting. The MB biosorption capacity and uptake kinetics are greatly improved by chemical modification of the biomass. Effectiveness of examined biosorbents in MB removal from aqueous solutions can be put in the following order: rLVB < aLVB < ccLVB.

Sorption characteristics of three Lagenaria vulgaris-based biosorbents: raw biomass (rLVB), acid–base-activated biomass (aLVB) and sulfuric acid-treated biomass (ccLVB), were compared as a function of contact time, initial methylene blue concentration, and initial pH, in order to evaluate the effect of chemical modifications. The adsorption studies of raw and chemically modified L. vulgarisbiomass were compared in batch mode. The Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results of biosorbents’ characterization showed presence of different functional groups which can be responsible for sorption of MB from aqueous solutions. Moreover, FTIR analysis reveals that acid–base activation of raw biomaterial resulted in hydrolysis of esters providing more reactive sites (–COO−), while sulfuric acid-treatment method introduced new functional groups such as –SO3−. Surface functional groups containing oxygen, such as carboxylic, lactonic, and phenolic, are quantified using the Boehm’s method. The kinetics of MB biosorption were found to follow a pseudo-second-order kinetics in all cases, while experimental equilibrium data were fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms by linear regression method. Langmuir modelprovides the best fitting. The MB biosorption capacity and uptake kinetics are greatly improved by chemical modification of the biomass. Effectiveness of examined biosorbents in MB removal from aqueous solutions can be put in the following order: rLVB < aLVB < ccLVB.

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system was used in the reversed phase mode for the determination of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) in nosal drops. A Chromolit RP-18e, 100 x 4.6, (UM6077/035) column was used at 40 °C. The mobile phase, optimized through an experimental design, was a 70:30 (v/v) mixture of 0.057M Na-heksansulphonate potassium, dihydrogen orthophosphate buffer (pH 2.9) and acetonitrile, pumped at a flow rate of 1.75 mL/min at maintaining column temperature at 40 °C. Maximum UV detection was achieved at 215 nm. The method was validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, repeatability, precision and accuracy. The method was successfully applied for the determination of BKC in a pharmaceutical formulation of nasal drop solution without any interference from common excipients and drug substance. All the validation parameters were within the acceptance range, concordant to ICH guidelines.

Tansy, Tanacetum macrophyllum (Waldst. & Kit.) Sch. Bip., is often misidentified by herb collectors as yarrow, Achillea grandifolia Friv. With the former, cases of poisoning induced by its ingestion are well documented, but the latter is widely used for ethnopharmacological purposes. The aim of this study was to estimate, based on the volatile metabolite profiles of the two species, the potential health risk connected with their misidentification. GC and GC-MS analysis of the essential oils hydrodistilled using a Clevenger-type apparatus from A. grandifolia, T. macrophyllum, and two plant samples (reputedly of A. grandifolia, but in fact mixtures of A. grandifolia and T. macrophyllum) obtained from a local market, resulted in the identification of 215 different compounds. The main constituents of A. grandifolia oil were ascaridole (15.5%), α-thujone (7.5%), camphor (15.6%), borneol (5.2%) and (Z)-jasmone (6.4%), and of T. macrophyllum oil, 1,8-cineole (8.6%), camphor (6.4%), borneol (9.1%), isobornyl acetate (9.5%), copaborneol (4.2%) and γ-eudesmol (6.2%). The compositions of the oils extracted from the samples obtained from the market were intermediate to those of A. grandifolia and T. macrophyllum. Significant differences in the corresponding volatile profiles and the literature data concerning the known activities of the pure constituents of the oils, suggested that the pharmacological action of the investigated species (or their unintentional mixtures) would be notably different. It seems, however, that misidentification of T. macrophyllum as A. grandifolia does not represent a health risk and that the absence of the toxic α-thujone from T. macrophyllum oil may in fact be regarded as a benefit.